Hat and miscellaneous hanger



p 23, 1965 H. HANSEN 3,208,597

HAT AND MISCELLANEOUS HANGER Filed Jan. 30, 1964 52 LOUIS H. HANSEN INVENTOR BY IN VE N TOR United States Patent 3,208,597 HAT AND MISCELLANEOUS HANGER Louis H. Hansen, 6703 NW. 31st Terrace, Bethany, Okla. Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,220 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-32) This invention relates generally to a collapsible hat and miscellaneous hanger. More particularly, this invention provides a collapsible hanger useful to support hats, suits, canes and other articles in a house, ofiice, or when travelling in an automobile. The hanger can be folded and placed in a travel kit or collapsed and put into a coat pocket if necessary.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a collapsible hanger for mens hats that will fit snugly within the sweat band of a hat to support the hat and maintain its shape while the hat is not being worn.

It is another object of my invention to provide a collapsible hat hanger which can be easily adjusted to fit any size hat and hold the hat in shape.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible hat and miscellaneous hanger on which suits, ties, canes or other miscellaneous articles or wearing apparel may be hung.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible hat and miscellaneous hanger which supports a hat at the sweat band portion, thereby providing a portion of the hanger for hanging miscellaneous articles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible hat and miscellaneous hanger which may be collapsed or nested with like hangers to reduce storage, shipping space and costs incident thereto. One other object of my invention is to provide a collapsible hanger that can be quickly, easily and economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will be evident from the following specification wherein reference is made to the drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in all views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a collapsible hanger, constructed in accordance with the invention, shown partly in elevation and partly in cross-section.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one portion of the hanger of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of another portion of the hanger of FIGURE 1, taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a layout or plan view of a loop band utilized in the hanger of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the hanger of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a view, partly in cross-section and partly in elevation, of the hanger of FIGURE 1 illustrating its use in supporting a hat on a door.

Referring to the drawings, and to FIGURE 1 in particular, shown therein and generally designated by reference character 10 is a collapsible hanger constructed in accordance with the invention. As shown therein, the hanger can consist of a hat or headgear supporting portion generally designated by reference character 12 and a hanger portion generally designated by reference character 14.

The hat supporting portion 12 includes an elongated brace member 15 which comprises an elongated member 16 having a slot 18 (see FIGURE 2) formed therein. A second elongated member 19 is connected with the member 16 by a bolt 20 and a wing nut 22. The bolt 20 extends through the slot 18 so that the overall length of the brace member 15 may be adjusted as desired. The members 16 and 19 have down-turned end portions 24 and 26, respectively, to accommodate a loop band 28. The loop band 28 may be more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. The down-turned end port-ion 24 of the member 16 is perforated (not shown) to receive a bolt 30 and a wing nut 32 to securely fasten the loop band 28 thereto.

The member 19 also includes, on the down-turned end portion 26, an in-turned terminal portion 34 which is used to attach the hat supporting portion 12 to the hanger portion 14. The terminal portion 34 is formed at an obtuse angle relative to end portion 26 and is arranged to lie in juxtaposition with a terminal portion 35 of an elongated end member 36 that is part of the hanger portion 14. The opposite terminal portion 38 of the end member 36 is connected through an obtuse angle to an inverted U-shaped hook or end portion 39 for purposes that will hereinafter become apparent.

The U-shaped end portion 39 includes a pair of spaced, parallel legs 39a and 3% connected at approximately ninety degree angles to a bight portion 39c. As may be more clearly seen in FIGURE 3, the outermost leg 39b of the U-shaped end portion 39 is provided with a keyhole 40 that can be used to attach the hanger to a screw (not shown) that may be affixed to a wall or other surface. Alternatively, the U-shaped end portion 39 permits the device to be frictionally secured over the top edge of a door or other vertical member having a rectangular cross-section in a vertical plane.

The hanger portion 14 further includes an elongated central member 41 which, in the illustrated embodiment, has an acute angle formed in the upper end thereof to form an engaging portion 42 adapted to lie in juxtaposition to the members 34 and 36. A hole (not shown) extends through the terminal portions 34 and 35 and engaging portion 42 to accommodate a bolt 44 having a wing nut 46 attached thereto for the purpose of holding terminal portions 34 and 35 and engaging portion 42 in juxtaposition.

The final element of the hanger portion 14 is a second end member 48 which is secured to the lower end of the central member 41 at an angle thereto so that the members 36, 41 and 48 form three contiguous sides of an imaginary quadrilateral which is open at one side thereof. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the bent central member 41 and the end member 48 can be integrally formed so that these elements assume the form of a Z-shaped bracket. In any embodiment of the invention, the end member 48,. central member 41 and end member 36 form a three-sided load supporting structure which transmits the weight of the hat and other apparel to the door.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 4, the loop band 28 is an elongated member constructed from a plastic sheet material, such as polyethylene, or from any other material having suflicient flexibility and also possessing a substantial degree of resilience. The loop band 28 is formed into a generally circular or oval configuration as shown in FIGURE 5. The loop band 28 is provided at one end with a hole 50 and at the other end with a plurality of holes 52. When positioned on the hat supporting portion 12 of the collapsible hanger 10, the hole 50 and one of the holes 52 will be aligned to accommodate the bolt 30 whereby the loop band 28 is attached to the hat supporting portion 12. A plurality of holes 52 are provided so that the size of the loop band 28 may be adjusted as required.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the assembled collapsible hanger 10 and clearly shows one configuration which may be assumed by the loop band 28 when installed thereon.

To use the collapsible hanger 19, it is assembled as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 5 and 6. The wing nut 22 can be loosened so that the member 16 may be moved relative to the member 19 to adjust the size of the elongated brace member 15 and to vary the shape of the loop band 28. Such an adjustment is necessary due to the varying configuration of various types of headgear, that is, some hats are more or less circular and some are of a long, oval shape. It should be pointed out that without the inclusion of both the adjustable brace member 15, and adjustable loop band 28, it would not be possible to achieve adjustability in the diameter of the loop without concurrent distortion in the configuration of the loop band. In other words, the invention per mits hats of any diametric size and peripheral shape to be exactly fitted by the loop band.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, a mans hat 54 shown in cross-section is positioned on the loop band 28. The U-shaped end portion 39 of the hanger portion 14 is disposed over the upper end of a door 56 with the end member 48 in engagement with a surface 58 of the door 56 so that the hat 54 is supported as illustrated. It is important to note that the angle formed between the end member 48 and the central member 41 provides for the spacing of the hat 54 away from the surface 58 of the door 56 so that a hanger (not shown) holding a coat or other article may be conveniently hung in this angle. The bracket formed by the central member 41 and the end member 48 may also be used to conveniently support a cane, umbrella or other similar items. It should be noted that support of the hanger 16 upon a screw located in a flat wall surface can be a suitable mode of mounting the hanger even Where no upper edge of a door or the like is available.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the collapsible hanger may be very quickly and easily converted into a convenient size for storage. This is accomplished by loosening the wing nuts 22, 32 and 46, and moving the various members substantially into the area defined by the loop band 28.

The embodiment described herein is by way of example only and many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible hanger for supporting hats and miscellaneous items, said hanger comprising:

a hat supporting portion including a pair of elongated members having adjacent end portions adjustably interconnected, each of said members having relatively down-turned portions, and one of said members having a terminal portion extending angularly with respect to the down-turned portion thereon, and

an adjustable length loop band encircling said pair of elongated members and attached to at least one of said down-turned portions, said loop band being adapted to fit into a hat to provide support therefor;

a hanger portion including a first end member having a first terminal portion in juxtaposition with the terminal portion of said elongated member and having a second terminal portion, said second terminal portion being secured to an inverted, generally U-shaped end portion having a pair of spaced, parallel legs each connected through an angle of approximately ninety degrees (90) to a bight portion, said legs being adapted to be disposed adjacent the parallel side surfaces, and to encompass the end surface, of a door or the like when said hanger is installed on a door; and

a central member extending angularly from said first end member; and

a second end member extending relatively upwardly at an angle from said central member whereby said second end member is adapted to support miscellaneous items; and

releasable means connecting said juxtapositioned terminal portions and said central member whereby said hat supporting portion and hanger portion are releasably interconnected.

2. A collapsible hanger for supporting hats and miscellaneous items on a door or the like having a pair of generally vertically extending parallel surfaces and an end surface interconnecting the vertically extending surfaces, said hanger comprising:

a hat supporting portion including a pair of elongated members having adjacent end portions adjustably interconnected, each of said members having relatively down-turned portions, and one of said members having a terminal portion extending angularly with respect to the down-turned portion thereon; and

an adjustable length loop band encircling said pair of elongated members and releasably attached to at least one of said down-turned portions, said loop band being adapted to be fitted into a hat to provide support therefor;

a hanger portion including a first end member having a first terminal portion in juxtaposition with the terminal portion of said elongated member and having a second terminal portion secured to an inverted, generally U-shaped end portion having a pair of spaced parallel legs connected through angles of approximately ninety degrees to a bight portion, said legs being adapted to be disposed adjacent the parallel surfaces and to encompass the end surface of a door or the like when said hanger is installed thereon; and

a generally Z-shaped support bracket including a central member having an end portion in juxtaposition to the first terminal nportion of said first end member, said central member extending angularly downwardly from said first terminal portion; and

a second end member extending relatively upwardly at an angle from said central member, said second end member being adapted to engage one of the surfaces of the door or the like and to support miscellaneous items; and

releasable means connecting said juxtapositioned terminal portions and the end portion of said central member whereby said hat support portion and hanger portion are releasably interconnected.

3. A collapsible hanger for supporting hats and miscellaneous items on a generally vertical wall having a screw or the like connected to the wall and projecting from the surface thereof, said hanger comprising:

a hat support portion including a pair of elongated members having adjacent end portions adjustably interconnected and opposite end portions bent through an angle in a common direction, one of said elongated members having a terminal portion extending angularly with respect to said opposite end portion thereof; and

an adjustable length loop band encircling said pair of elongated members and releasably attached to at least one of said opposite end portions, said loop band being adapted to be fitted into a hat to provide support therefor;

a hanger portion including a first end member having a first terminal portion in juxtaposition with the'terminal portion of said one elongated member and having a second terminal portion secured to an inverted, generally U-shaped end portion having a pair of spaced parallel legs connected through an angle of approximately ninety degrees (90) to a bight portion, the outermost of said legs having an opening extending therethrough adapted to be placed over the screw to support said hanger portion thereon; and

releasable means connecting said hat support portion and said hanger portion.

4. A device for supporting headgear and miscellaneous apparel from an upright member having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration in a vertical plane, said device including:

(a) an adjustable headgear supporting portion for supporting headgear of various sizes; and

(b) a hanger portion detachably connected to said adjustable headgear supporting portion;

said headgear supporting portion comprising (1) a loop band of adjustable diameter; and

(2) a linearly adjustable elongated brace member diametrically disposed in said loop band and adjustable in length for conformity with adjustments in the diameter of said loop band; and

(3) means for detachably connecting said headgear supporting portion to said hanger portion;

said hanger portion comprising:

(1) an end portion having a bight portion and two legs projecting normal to said bight portion to define an open geometric figure complementary in configuration to three sides of the rectangular cross-section of said upright member whereby said end portion can be frictionally engaged with the top of said upright member with the bight and legs in abutting contact with three contiguous surfaces thereof; and

(2) a three-sided load supporting portion including two end members extending from a central member so as to constitute three contiguous sides of an imaginary quadrilateral figure, one of said end members being connected at an obtuse angle to the free end of one of the legs of said end portion and extending from said one leg in a direction opposite the direction of extension therefrom of said bight portion, and the other of said end members being connected at an angle not exceeding ninety degrees (90) to said central member,

said detachable connecting means being connected to said three-sided supporting portion.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said headgear supporting portion is secured by said detachable connecting means to said hanger portion at the junction of said one end member with said central member and extends in a direction opposite the direction of extension of said end member from said central member.

6. In combination with a vertical member having an upper end surface and a pair of parallel, vertical side surfaces extending normal to said upper end surface, a collapsible hanger for a hat comprising:

a U-shaped portion having opposed parallel legs engaging the parallel vertical side surfaces of said vertical member, and

a bight portion extending between said legs and engaging said upper end surface;

three-sided load supporting means including a central member, and

two end members connected to opposite ends of said central member and forming with said central member, three contiguous sides of an imaginary quadrilateral having its fourth side formed by one of the parallel vertical surfaces of said vertical member, one of said end members being connected to a leg of said U-shaped portion and extending in the opposite direction therefrom from the direction of extension therefrom of said bight portion, and the other of said end members extending downwardly at an angle from said one parallel vertical surface of said vertical member; and

a hat supporting portion detachably connected to said three-sided load supporting means and including an adjustable length loop band; and

a linearly adjustable elongated brace member diametrically disposed in said loop band, said brace member and loop band being selectively adjustable both simultaneously and individually to permit said hat supporting portion to provide optimum support for bats of varying sizes and shapes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,501,807 7/24 Petschel 248--308 1,861,341 5/32 Grame 21132 FOREIGN PATENTS 407,966 1/ 10 France.

10,773 5/05 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE HANGER FOR SUPPORTING HATS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, SAID HANGER COMPRISING: A HAT OF ELONGATED MEMBERS HAVING ADJACENT END A PAIR OF EELONGATED MEMBERS HAVING ADJACENT END PORTIONS ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTED, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING RELATIVELY DOWN-TURNED PORTIONS, AND ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION EXTENDING ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DOWN-TURNED PORTION THEREON, AND AN ADJUSTABLE LENGTH LOOP BAND ENCIRCLING SAID PAIR OF ELONGATED MEMBERS AND ATTACHED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DOWN-TURNED PORTIONS, SAID LOOP BAND BEING ADAPTED TO FIT INTO A HAT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THEREFOR; A HANGER PORTION INCLUDING A FIRST END MEMBER HAVING A FIRST TERMINAL PORTION IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH THE TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER AND HAVING A SECOND TERMINAL PORTION, SAID SECOND TERMINAL PORTION BEING SECURED TO AN INVERTED, GENERALLY U-SHAPED END PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL LEGS EACH CONNECTED THROUGH AN ANGLE OF AP- 